This is a place for members of Home of the Brave to post thoughts, insights, and opinions about events related to the investigation of non-combat deaths of US soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Army Releases June 2013 Suicide Information

Army
Releases June 2013 Suicide Information

The Army released suicide data today for the month of June 2013.
During June, among active-duty soldiers, there were 14 potential suicides: four
have been confirmed as suicides and 10 remain under investigation. For May
2013, the Army reported 12 potential suicides among active-duty soldiers: two
have been confirmed as suicides and 10 are under investigation. For CY 2013,
there have been 77 potential active-duty suicides: 42 have been confirmed as
suicides and 35 remain under investigation. Updated active-duty suicide numbers
for CY 2012: 185 (166 have been confirmed as suicides and 19 remain under
investigation).

During June 2013, among reserve component soldiers who were not
on active duty, there were eight potential suicides (four Army National Guard
and four Army Reserve): none have been confirmed as suicides and eight remain
under investigation. For May 2013, among that same group, the Army reported 10
potential suicides; however, subsequent to the report, four more cases were
added bringing May's total to 14 (11 Army National Guard and three Army
Reserve): two have been confirmed as a suicide and 12 cases remain under
investigation. For CY 2013, there have been 81 potential not on active duty
suicides (51 Army National Guard and 30 Army Reserve): 40 have been confirmed
as suicides and 41 remain under investigation. Updated not on active duty
suicide numbers for CY 2012: 140 (93 Army National Guard and 47 Army Reserve):
138 have been confirmed as suicides and two remain under investigation.

Soldiers and families in need of crisis assistance can contact
the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Trained consultants are available 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and can be contacted by dialing
1-800-273-TALK (8255) or by visiting their website at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

The Military Crisis Line offers free and confidential support to
service members in crisis or anyone who knows a service member who is. The
service is staffed by caring, qualified responders from the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA), many who have served in the Military themselves. Support
is offered through the crisis line, online chat, and text-messaging services for
all service members (Active, National Guard and Reserve) and veterans 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, 365 days a year by visiting the Military Crisis Line
website at: http://www.militarycrisisline.net; Online Chat at: http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ChatTermsOfService.aspx;
sending a text to: 838255 or calling toll free at: 1-800-273-8255, press 1; in
Europe Dial: 00800 1273 8255 or DSN 118. Services are available even if
members are not registered with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or
enrolled in VA health care.

Information about Military OneSource is located at www.militaryonesource.com or by dialing the toll-free number
1-800-342-9647 for those residing in the continental U.S. Overseas personnel
should refer to the Military OneSource web site for dialing instructions for
their specific location.

Information about the Army's Comprehensive Soldier and Family
Fitness Program (CSF2) is located at http://csf2.army.mil/.

No comments:

Our Loved Ones

Families

"I told them, 'Hey, if you don't want to deal with mourning families, then recruit orphans."

Peggy Buryj

"After the truth of Pat's death was partially revealed, Pat was no longer of use as a sales asset, and became strictly the Army's problem. They were now left with the task of briefing our family and answering our questions. With any luck, our family would sink quietly into our grief, and the whole unsavory episode would be swept under the rug. However, they miscalculated our family's reaction."Kevin Tillman

"...our treatment by the country for which our loved ones gave their lives has added another dimension of grief and difficulty. Having one another gives us the encouragement to continue."

Joan L. Piper

"The greatest disappointment, is in our country whose leaders plainly have an agenda that values the establishment over the individual, form over fact, expedience over truth. All of us morn the loss of our loved ones, but we also morn the loss of respect that we all have had for our country."

Dr. John Sabow

"I will review these records to identify what led to [Phillip's] murder and the acquittal of his murderer," Esposito said Friday. "In fighting for justice for Phillip, my daughter and myself, I also fight for justice for all officers and servicemembers. No other family should have to suffer as we have." Siobhan Esposito

Historical Fact

"Of the more than 274,000 officers and men who served in the army during the Spanish-American War and the period of demobilization, 5,462 died in the various theaters of operation and in camps in the a U.S. Only 379 of the deaths were battle casualties, the remainder being attributed to disease and other causes."

Source: Encyclopedia of American History by Richard Morris

In 1898, thousands of soldiers got food poisoning from meat packed by Armour and Company and sold to the Army. There are no figures on how many of the five thousand noncombat deaths were caused by this.

The Oxford Companion to American Military History estimates that between 2 percent and 25 percent of the casualties in America's wars are attributable to friendly fire.